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Scholarship to honor Embry-Riddle track star

DAYTONA TIMES — Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Allegiant Travel Company have announced the Howard Walls, Jr. Track and Field Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship, commemorating the achievements, aviation career and legacy of the Embry-Riddle Athletics Hall of Famer and All-American track star has been endowed via a unique funding partnership between Walls’ teammates, family and colleagues, as well as a corporate contribution from Allegiant in support of future aviation professionals.

Published

6 years ago

September 16, 2019

Oakland Post

Howard Walls Jr. (Center), an Embry-Riddle Athletics Hall of Famer, died last year. (Photo by: daytonatimes.com)

By The Daytona Times

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Allegiant Travel Company have announced the Howard Walls, Jr. Track and Field Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship, commemorating the achievements, aviation career and legacy of the Embry-Riddle Athletics Hall of Famer and All-American track star has been endowed via a unique funding partnership between Walls’ teammates, family and colleagues, as well as a corporate contribution from Allegiant in support of future aviation professionals.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to an outstanding track athlete whose goal is to pursue a career in the aviation industry.

National honors

Walls competed for Embry-Riddle’s track and field team from 2005 – 2010 and was inducted into the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame on Jan. 19, 2019.

Howard Walls, Jr.

In his freshman campaign, he became the first Embry-Riddle Men’s Track and Field student-athlete to earn All-America honors with his fifth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles at the NAIA Indoor National Championships.

He repeated as an All-American in that event in 2008 and 2009, setting the Embry-Riddle record of 8.08 in a third-place finish in his senior year.

Walls also achieved All-America status in the 110m hurdles after finishing fifth at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in 2010. He set a school record in the 110-meter hurdles of 14.11 in 2008 and that mark still stands as an Embry-Riddle best.

Died last year

His studies at Embry-Riddle also brought about a successful career in the aviation industry, where he rose to become Allegiant’s director of quality, compliance and safety for station operations.

His life was tragically cut short by a motorcycle accident in 2018.

The idea of celebrating Walls’ achievements and legacy through a scholarship started with his former teammates at Embry-Riddle, including Chris Harter, who spearheaded an initial crowdfunding campaign which started in April.

A modest initial goal of $3,000 was met within 48 hours of the campaign launch, and quickly spread to friends, family and professional colleagues at Allegiant.

“Howard was somebody everybody liked, but not because he was a great athlete, but because he was a great person,” Harter said.

“He motivated and encouraged every teammate he was around and every athlete he coached. Former teammates and I feel that Howard’s name is one the track program should hear on a daily basis because he possessed the qualities of an All-American on and off the track.”

Allegiant’s contribution

Through the company’s corporate giving priority of supporting STEM education and access to careers in aviation, Allegiant contributed $10,000 to the growing fund, helping to fully endow this special scholarsh.

“We were incredibly moved by the university’s campaign to establish a scholarship in Howard’s name, and we are thrilled to be able to help ensure that his memory and achievements inspire and help others realize their own dreams of careers in aviation,” said Hilarie Grey, Allegiant’s managing director of corporate communications.

With Allegiant’s support, the campaign to date has created both a term scholarship and an endowed memorial scholarship in Walls’ honor with donations totaling over $28,000.

“We have been blown away by the outpouring of support from Howard’s teammates, friends, coworkers, and family since this campaign started,” said Matt Wilson, senior director of development for Embry-Riddle Athletics.

“This campaign is a small representation of the impact Howard had on so many people throughout his life. The endowed memorial scholarship will help ensure Howard’s legacy lives on in the future generations of Embry-Riddle Track & Field student-athletes and our Athletics program.”

To be eligible for the scholarship, a student-athlete must be a full-time graduate or undergraduate student at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus with a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA pursuing a career in aviation, and be a current member of the Embry-Riddle men’s or women’s track and field team.

University involvement

After exhausting his eligibility at Embry-Riddle, Walls remained involved with the university’s Track & Field program as a graduate assistant coach, working primarily with the hurdlers.

He helped Breanna Goring, Alex Dori and Crystal Bardge hit national championship qualifying marks, and played a role in Bardge winning national titles in both the indoor 60-meter hurdles and the 100-meter outdoor hurdles.

Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Walls earned his undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Science in 2010 and completed his master’s degree in Aviation in 2012. An announcement regarding the first recipient of the new scholarship is expected later this fall.

This article originally appeared in the Daytona Times.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

1 week ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

1 week ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: